Montana Catski Company Applies For Heli Permit

28th October 2008 | Becky Lomax, Associate Editor

Valhalla Adventures located outside Whitefish Mountain Resort is seeking to expand into the heli-skiing business. Fred Dietrich, owner of Valhalla Adventures, applied to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for a permit to run heli-skiing in conjunction with his cat-ski operation on Stryker Ridge. "It'll be an experimental thing this winter if it happens," says Dietrich.

Dietrich plans to continue his full cat-skiing operation, too. "You have times here with fog when you just can't fly," he says.

Whitefish Mountain Resort dropped their cat-skiing this year leaving Dietrich's service as the area's only cat-ski operation. Dietrich overhauled his Hagglund cat with a new twice-as-powerful and quieter engine. Continued logging on the state lands in the permit area has improved the access with more roads and opened up more glades.

Valahalla Adventures cat-ski menu includes one-day, overnight yurt, and full moon trips. Dietrich also annually runs his Avalanche II certification classes. He also aims to lure first time cat riders. "I want to group them with other first timers to have more fun without the anxiousness and pressure of skiing with others who want big vertical," he says.